Late-night robberies reported at businesses

Lawrence police were seeking two suspects Tuesday night after two unrelated robberies occurred within 15 minutes of each other.

A woman reported a strong-armed robbery in which a suspect took her purse at 10:30 p.m. at the Raco Car Wash, 2828 Iowa, said Sgt. Mark Warren, a police spokesman.

The woman told police she was cleaning out her vehicle when she noticed a man reach inside the car. She tried to stop the man, but he hit her, took the purse and left the area, Warren said.

Police described the suspect as a white male with short brown hair, age 20 to 30, 6 feet 1 inch tall, wearing a green shirt and white cap.

In a separate incident, at 10:45 p.m. a man came into the Walgreens, 400 W. 23rd St., and asked a clerk for change. When the clerk opened the cash register, the man jumped behind the counter and grabbed an unknown amount of cash, Warren said.

The suspect ran out of the store and jumped into a white vehicle that headed north on Louisiana Street. Police said witnesses described the suspect as a black male, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.